Twenty minutes after Crow called, Calum arrived at the headquarters. He headed straight to his boss's office. Crow was seated in his chair, facing the expansive, luminous glass wall, taking in the breathtaking green scenery outside.
Crow's legs were crossed, a costly tobacco pipe resting in his right hand, emitting a gentle plume of smoke.
"Take a seat," Crow offered calmly, taking a sip from his pipe. He hadn't looked at Calum yet, but he was clearly aware of his presence.
Calum took a few strides towards the chair beside Crow, sitting as formally as he could, his hands resting on the sides of the brown, wooden chair. He recognized the controlled composure in his own side profile, knowing it was the exact opposite of what he was feeling inside.
"Tell me what's going on," Crow said, standing up and placing his pipe in a fancy glass ashtray as he adjusted his black necktie.
"I don't know about the transactions, sir, but I know everything is progressing according to plan," Calum replied.
"How about the girl?" Crow asked, his voice laced with a subtle chill that sent a wave of worry through Calum.
"The girl? If you're referring to Mariana Rodriguez... She escaped. ," Calum said, the lie slipping from his lips, but he managed to deliver it with a professional facade. His boss moved closer, and Calum could see the disdain in his eyes.
"You're in the news, and don't think for a second that you can fool me,you let a garbage escape?
I'll buy it if you said you killed her! " Crow said, his voice high and dangerous.
Calum bowed his head, the moment Crow stood before him. If there was anyone Calum didn't want to anger, it was Crow. Crow was one of the world's most powerful syndicate leaders. His illegal activities, including gambling, drug trafficking, and human trafficking, had made him one of the wealthiest men in the world.
"How about Jaguar? Don't tell me he's spouting nonsense. You're putting me in danger! That woman knew something, and she's a witness! If she escapes, it's bad for my reputation!" Crow said, his voice rising in anger.
"I'll look for her, I am looking for her" Calum said without any expression in his face.
Crow placed his hands on his hips and turned to face the glass wall. Silence filled the room, broken only by the sound of Crow's heavy breath. Then, a powerful punch landed on Calum's face. Blood trickled from the left side of his lower lip.
Calum clenched his fists, anger surging through him. His head screamed at him to stay calm, to not make things worse. He knew Crow had every right to be furious. He glared at Crow, his teeth gritted.
"Make sure you clean up your mess. And get out of my sight!" Crow barked, his voice filled with icy rage.
Calum wiped the blood from his chin and walked out of the office.
_
Calum glared at his furious reflection in the rearview mirror of his car, his stomach churning with revulsion. This was the first time he had made Crow angry, truly aggrieved. He had always received praise and recognition from his boss, and this recent encounter made him despise himself. He had lied, all because of a woman he should have killed. That was the unpleasant truth he didn't want to face.
He started the engine and sped away from his hideout. His driving was reckless, a reflection of his simmering rage. He reached the house, his eyes burning with a degrading anger that was visible to anyone who looked at him.
Calum stormed into the room where Mariana was staying.
Mariana was startled by the sound of the door being thrown open. She was aware of his terrible anger, evident in his ferocious gaze as it locked onto hers.
Calum grabbed her left shoulder, forcing her to stand. His grip was so tight that she felt a sharp pain.
She was completely astonished and terrified. Her heart pounded against her ribs, threatening to break free.
"Stop, Calum!" she cried out, her voice laced with pain.
Calum continued to force her to walk, pushing her towards the couch. She sat down, looking up at him, her eyes wide with fear. She didn't understand where this anger came from. His gaze was dark, his jaw clenched tight. He pulled out his gun and pointed it at her.
Mariana wasn't sure what to feel. A tear rolled down her cheek. She didn't know what to do, but suddenly, she found herself standing, reaching for his hand, where the gun was held. She pointed the gun at her chest, where her heart was, the part of her dress that was ripped. They stared at each other, their emotions unclear.
"Kill me," she whispered, her voice trembling.
"I don't want to believe there's something... I felt about you. You know, these strange feelings in my mind, they're terrible. I don't want this. I don't want to have this. Kill me!" she cried, her tears falling faster.
Calum felt every word she said. His harsh eyes focused intently on her face. Her beauty and emotions tormented his soul. He didn't want to see her cry like that. It made him weak, uncontrollable.
He grabbed her waist and kissed her. Their lips met, as if heaven and earth had collided, unbelievably magical.
Calum pressed his lips against hers, his possessiveness taking over. It was contagious, powerful. Mariana fought back, her hands gripping his shoulders for support. She placed her other hand on his jaw, standing on her tiptoes to make it more comfortable for them. Their hearts pounded violently, their eyes closed as they felt the heat of their lips.
They extended the kiss, their bodies pressed close. He let the gun fall to the floor, his hand slipping up to her neck, pulling her head closer to his.
She felt his masculine body against hers, the way their lips met, the brush of their skin. Their hearts wanted to scream with joy.
They both gasped for air, Mariana struggling to breathe, unwilling to break the connection of their lips.
They didn't care. For that moment, they felt free, untethered from the world's rules.
Finally, they pulled away.
Calum bit his lower lip, looking at her beautiful face, her eyes still closed. Their bodies remained close, and it made him feel different. Her mouth was slightly open, her lips moist from the kiss. He watched her breathe rapidly, her chest rising and falling against his.
She opened her eyes, and they stared at each other, confused, questioning what they were doing.
No words came out. Silence filled the space between them as they locked eyes intensely.
Calum tore his gaze away, letting her go slowly, his teeth gritted.
He picked up the gun from the floor and walked towards the door.
He punched the door with disgust. He felt annoyed, betrayed, killed by himself. It was that bad.
"Shit," he cursed, his voice filled with frustration. He didn't know why he had kissed her. But he was certain his heart knew the reason.
Mariana watched him leave, hearing his car engine start. She wanted to melt into the floor and disappear. Too many questions tormented her mind. She hated herself, too, the same way Calum hated himself. She couldn't convince herself that she had just kissed someone, a stranger, a man she should be scared of.
She cried, her emotions a jumbled mess, terrorizing her confused, troubled heart.
***